The Expression of Praise

1.  Love the people

2.  Teach the Word

3.  Move slowly

Acts 2:40-47, Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” 41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people.  And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

These “Cultural Distinctives” are…

  1.  Evangelism 

  2.  Discipleship

  3.  Community 

  4.  Prayer 

  5.  Openness to the supernatural 

  6.  Unity 

  7.  Service 

  8.  Generosity 

  9.  Worship 

10.  Gratefulness/Praise

Praise means; "to applaud, to declare the worth of, to express the approval or admiration of, to recognize the glory of, to adore, and to celebrate with an exuberant expression."

• Praise is extroverted and expressive in nature.

The Five Love Languages…

1.  Quality Time

2.  Words of Affirmation

3.  Acts of Service

4.  Gifts

5.  Physical Touch

“We have some dear folks in our churches who cross their arms, lower their heads, purse their lips, and say, 'This is just my way of praising the Lord.'  Wrong!  First of all, there is no such thing as ‘my way’ of praising the Lord; there is only ‘God's way.’”   —Bob Sorge

1.  Singing

Psalm 100:2, Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. 

Psalm 9:1-2, I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praises to Your name, O Most High.

Psalm 66:8, Let the sound of praise be heard.

Isaiah 40:9, "Lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid.”  

2.  Playing musical instruments

1 Chronicles 13:8, Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.

Psalm 150:1-6, Praise the Lord!  Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty heavens. 2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! 3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! 4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! 5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbal!. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! 

3.  Shouting

Psalm 47:1, "Shout to God with the voice of triumph!"

Psalm 66:1-2, "Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!" 2 Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious.

Psalm 95:1-2, Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!  Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with praises.

4.  Lifting our hands

Psalm 63:3-4, "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life.  My lips shall praise You. 4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name."

Psalm 134:2, "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.” 

5.  Clapping our hands

Psalm 47:1-2, "Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!  Shout to God with the voice of triumph! 2 For the Lord Most High is awesome..."

6.  Dancing

Psalm 30:11-12, You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.  You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, 12 that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give thanks forever! 

Psalm 149:3, Praise His name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. 

2 Samuel 6:14, Then David danced [whirled around] before the Lord with all his might..."

7.  Standing

Psalm 135:2-3, You who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God, praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.  Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant.

1 Samuel 16:11, And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?”  Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”  And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him.  For we will not sit down till he comes here." 

"We have some dear folks in our churches who cross their arms, lower their heads, purse their lips, and say, 'This is just my way of praising the Lord.'  Wrong!  First of all, there is no such thing as ‘my way’ of praising the Lord; there is only ‘God's way.’

Therefore, if lifting the hands is not ‘my way of praising God,’ then we need to make it our way of praising God!  We need to do it until it becomes a natural and genuine part of our expression to God.”   —Bob Sorge